Martin, 17, was killed while walking to his father's fiancee's house in Sanford from a nearby convenience store.

Zimmerman first called police atĀ 7:09 p.m. ET with concerns about a suspicious teen in the area, according to 911 tapes released by the Seminole County Sheriff's Department.

A 16-year-old girl who was on the phone with Martin most of the day last spoke to him around the time the incident allegedly began and lasted until 7:16 p.m. ET, when the call dropped. Almost immediately, 911 calls began coming in.Ā Ā Police arrived on the scene at 7:17 p.m.

Several witnesses called 911 at 7:16, 7:17, 7:18 and 7:19 p.m. ET.

Below are the transcripts of the calls as Zimmerman and witnesses describe what they saw and heard that night:

7:09 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Zimmerman: "We had some break-ins in our neighborhood ... and there is a realĀ suspiciousĀ guy. ... This guy looks like he's up to no good, he's on drugs or something. It's raining, and he's walking around looking about. "

Dispatcher: "Is this guy white, black,Ā Hispanic?"

Zimmerman: "He looks black."

Dispatcher: "Did you see what he's wearing?"

Zimmerman: "A dark hoodie, grey hoodie, jeans or sweatpants or white shoes. He's walking around staring at the houses. Now he's just staring at me."

Dispatcher: "Location?"

Zimmerman: "He's near the clubhouse right now. Now he's coming towards me. He has his hands in hisĀ waistband. He is a black male. Something's wrong with him. Yep. He's coming to check me out. He's got something in his hands. I don't know what his deal is. Send officers over here."

Dispatcher: "Let me know if he does anything else."

Zimmerman: "These a**holes, they always get away. When you come in go straight to the left ... when you pass the clubhouse ..."

Zimmerman: "Tell them to come past the clubhouse and make a left then past mailboxes and they will see my truck ..."

Dispatcher: "What's your apartment number?"

Zimmerman: "It's a home. ... IĀ don'tĀ want to give that out. I don't know who this kid is."

Dispatcher: "I will let them know where to meet you."

Zimmerman: "Have them call me, and I will let you know where I'm at."

------

During part of this time, Martin is on the phone with a 16-year-old girl. Below is an account of the phone call as relayed to In Session's Sunny Hostin by a lawyer for the Martin family:

Martin told the girlĀ someone was following him, and she advised him to run. Martin said he isn't going to run but will walk quickly. Zimmerman caught up with him, and Martin asked Zimmerman why he was following him. Zimmerman then asked Martin his name and why he was there. The girl on the phone says she heard Zimmerman push Martin, and then the call drops. She tried to call Martin back, but he didn't respond.

Caller: "No, I don't because I'm hiding upstairs. The gunshot was outside our house. You sent somebody, right?"

Dispatcher: "Do you hear any vehicles leaving or anything else?

Caller: "There's people yelling down there, but I don't want to go down there."

Dispatcher: "People are yelling now?"

Caller: "Yeah."

Dispatcher: "We do have officers on the way. Call us back if you see any vehicles leaving or anything."

------

7:16 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "There's someone screaming outside."

Dispatcher: "Is that at where you are at?"

Caller: "Oh, my God, there is a gunshot, hurry up."

[inaudible]

Dispatcher: "Do you see anybody? I don't need you to go outside."

Caller: "There is someone screaming. I just heard a gunshot."

Dispatcher: "Do you see anything? I don't need you to go outside. Do you hear screaming or anything?"

Caller: "Hurry up, they are right outside my house."

Dispatcher: "OK, we [have] police and emergency, OK. Are you in Sanford?"

Caller: "I see police now."

Dispatcher: "You see the officer?"

Caller: "Yeah, but like it's behind the house. There is a dead body there. It's not the front entrance. Oh, my God."

Dispatcher: "Please tell me so I can tell them."

Caller: "If you are looking at my house, it's behind by my back porch."

Dispatcher: "Coming from behind your house?"

Caller: "Yes, the back porch."

Dispatcher: "Stay on the line and update me."

Caller: "I just heard screaming and a gunshot."

Dispatcher: "We have an officer there. Did you hear any more gunshots?"

Caller: "No, I don't hear. Hurry up, hurry up."

Dispatcher: "OK, we have officers out there, OK? If anything changes, give us a call back, but we do have officers there. One officer is there."

Caller: "OK, did he see anything?"

Dispatcher: "I'm not sure, ma'am, I just know he is there, and two other officers are on their way, OK? If anything changes or anything more, call us back. As far as you know, it's coming from behind your house near yourĀ back-porchĀ area? When you hear screaming, was it screaming of female or male?"

Caller: "Male."

Dispatcher: "So, when you heard screaming, it was a male screaming?"

Caller: "Yes. And the guy on top had a white t-shirt."

Dispatcher: "What do you mean guy on top? Did you see a fight?"

Caller: "IĀ don'tĀ know, I just looked out my window, and there was a guy on top wearing a white t-shirt."

Dispatcher: "A white t-shirt. Did you see what kind of pants? He was on top of what?"

Caller: "I couldn't see the person he was on."

Dispatcher: "But he was on top of a person?"

Caller: "Yes."

Dispatcher: "The guy with the white t-shirt, did he get up and run?"

Caller: "I don't know. Went to the phone to call you

Dispatcher: "White, black orĀ Hispanic?"

Caller: "I couldn't tell, it was completely dark."

Dispatcher: "We have several units en route."

Caller: "Thank you."

7:17 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "Iām looking out my deck, and someone is screaming 'help,' and I donāt know. ā¦ I heard a bang. Iām looking out my window, out my backyard, and someone is yelling and screaming 'help.' "

Dispatcher: "You are not the only person calling. We have more than one officer on the scene and another on the way."

Caller: "Oh, my God. I see the person now. I see him walking. Thereās a man coming out and people coming out with flashlights. Oh, my God. I donāt know what he did to this person. I can see there is a man walking out with a flashlight right now."

Dispatcher: "Was it a male or female voice?"

Caller: "The man is up right now. Someone is coming over. Iām glad other people called."

Dispatcher: "We should be out there right now."

Caller: "I can open my window and hear it."

Dispatcher: "You can still hear it?"

Caller: "I donāt know what is happening. Someone is laying on the ground."

Dispatcher: "Whatās happening? Someone is on the ground? Someone has been shot? Calm down, stay on the line with me. Like I said, we have an officer on the scene, and we have other officers on the line."

Caller: "Oh, my God. They better hurry up. Someone is on the ground. Oh, my God! I see out my back window, sidewalk, grass, something is really bad. There is a man out here with a flashlight."

Dispatcher: "Is this person laying down in the street?"

Caller: "No, it's from my back window."

Dispatcher: "So is the person laying down in the street or in the grass?"

Caller: "The grass. Oh, my God! I think there is another gentleman with a flashlight. ... I think police. Oh, my God! He shot, he shot the person.He says he shot the person. He said he shot the person."

Dispatcher: "Who saying they shot who?"

Caller: "The people out there, a guy is raising his hands up, he's saying he shot a person. I think it's a police officer that's with him right now. arrest - uh - oh, my God, why - why (inaudible)"

Dispatcher: "Our officer is there, he has somebody at gunpoint. They're going to handle the situation from here."

Caller: "Oh! Oh, my God, somebody would be shot!"

Dispatcher: "It's probably going to be best if you stay inside your home for the time being, OK?"

Caller:" I know. I can't believe somebody's killed. He was saying help. Why didn't someone come out and help him?"

Dispatcher: "Listen, we don't know if they been killed ..."

Caller: "Yes, the person is dead, laying on the ground."

Dispatcher: "Just because he's laying on the ground don't mean he's passed. We have an ambulance on the way, and we are probably going to pick him up and take him to the hospital."

Caller: "I didn't see cause it was too dark, and I just heard people screaming 'help me, help me.' And this person shot him! He was like wrestling with him, you know what I mean, on the ground, from what I can see it was very dark. The man didn't try to run away or anything. I don't want to be a witness or anything. I'm scared. Oh, my god, a young boy, I can't imagine, I haven't seen anyone killed. This is a nice neighborhood. Oh, my God, I'm too scared to live here."

Dispatcher: "YouĀ don'tĀ have to worry right now. We have many officers on the way. Two officers on scene right now, we are on scene, OK?"

-----

7:17 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "Police. I just heard a shot behind my house. They are wrestling outside the back of my porch."

Dispatcher: "You just heard one shot go off?""

Caller: "It was either that or a rock at the window or something else. The guy's yelling 'help,' and I'm not going to help."

Dispatcher: "So you can hear someone yelling for help?"

Caller: "I'm pretty sure the guy is dead out here. Holy s***"

Dispatcher: "OK, we have several people calling in. Anything else that you heard?"

Caller: "A guy yelling, 'help.' Oh, my God! There is a guy with a flashlight in the backyard now. I think there's flashlights and a guy. ... I don't know if that's a cop. "

Dispatcher: "OK, we have several calls. Are you sure when you heard voices it was one person yelling, right?"

Caller: "There were two guys in the yard with flashlights, and there is a black guy down like he's been shot, and he's dead."

Dispatcher: "I have several officers going out there."

----–

7:17 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "Medical. IĀ think someone has been shot."

Dispatcher: "Why do you think someone has been shot?"

Caller: "Because they are laying in the backyard and a gunshot and they said 'call 911.' Now there are people coming with flashlights ..."

Dispatcher: "And it's in the backyard?"

Caller: "Yes."

Dispatcher: "And someone is laying in the backyard?"

Caller: "Yes, there are people around him now."

Dispatcher: "You there with kids?"

Caller: "Yes, my daughter. He is a black guy."

Dispatcher: "We have units on the way. What do you mean it's a black guy?"

Caller: "There is a black male standing over him."

Dispatcher: "Can you tell me what he's wearing?"

Caller: "I think someone else called 911."

Dispatcher: "You do see officers out there?"

Caller: "Yeah, IĀ think that's the flashlights that we see."

-----–

7:18 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "This is 911, correct? Police or medical. Someone is yelling two doors down from me, screaming, hollering 'help, help, help.' There is an elderly man that lives down there. I don't know. I heard a gunshot. I don't know if it would be ambulance."

Dispatcher: "How many shots did you hear?"

Caller: "One."

Dispatcher: "How long ago?"

Caller: "As soon as I heard that I picked up the phone and called."

Dispatcher: "Before calling 911?"

Caller: "Yes. There is somebody out by myĀ back porch. ... There is someone walking around with a flashlight. The police may already be here. I don't know. Someone is out there with a flashlight, but I did hear something."

Dispatcher: "We do have units there."

Caller: "Oh, my God."

Dispatcher: "And the screaming, was it a male or female you heard?"

Caller: "It sounded to me like a male, and from what I know and I've been here four years, there is an elderly man that lives like four doors down, um, north of me, and I'm inside."

Dispatcher: "Do you think it's coming from your area?"

Caller: "I don't know, ma'am, I'm standing at my back sliding glass door. I don't see anything but a flashlight shining around, but I did hear someone yelling 'help, help, help' or 'oh, my gosh' and something, then moaning and a boom, and I picked up the phone and called."

Dispatcher: "Did you see or hear anything else like a vehicle pulling away?"

Caller: "No, ma'am, because I'm in the back, and in the back there is just a walkway. It could have been someone in the front with a car, I don't know, but I was in the back. It was scary. There is someone still back there with flashlights walking around."

Dispatcher: "There should be someone on the scene ..."

-----–

7:19 p.m. ET

Dispatcher: "Do you need police, fire or medical?"

Caller: "My brother said someone got shot behind our house."

Dispatcher: "Is your brother out there right now?"

Caller: "No, he ran in the house."

Dispatcher: "Do you know who was shot?"

Caller: "No idea. ... I'm inside. It's behind our house. ... Yeah."

Dispatcher: "You didn't see or hear anything else? Did you hear the shot?"

Caller: "I heard something, and my brother ran in the house."

Dispatcher: "My brother saw it."

Dispatcher: "What did you see?"

Caller: "I saw a man laying on the ground screaming who needed help. I was going to go over there to try and help him, but my dog got off the leash, and I ran and got him, and I hurried around and down, and the screaming stopped."

Dispatcher: "Did you see the person get shot?"

Caller: "No."

Dispatcher: Did you know the person who got shot, or did you see the person with the gun?"

Caller: "No, I just heard a shot, and the screaming stopped."

-----–

Officers arrived on the scene at 7:17 p.m. ET, according to a police report.

Officers Timothy Smith and Ricardo Alayo said they noted a black male in a gray hooded sweatshirt lying face-down in the grass, as well as a white male in the area.

"Zimmerman stated that he had shot the subject and was still armed," Smith wrote in a police report.

Smith said he asked Zimmerman to hand over the weapon, a Kel Tec 9 mm, and handcuffed him.

"While I was in such close contact with Zimmerman, I could observe that his back appeared to be wet and he was covered in grass, as if he was laying on his back on the ground," Smith wrote in the police report. "Zimmerman was also bleeding from the nose and the back of the head."

The officers also made several attempts to revive Martin.

When police put Zimmerman in the back of the cruiser, he said, "I was yelling for someone to help me, but no one would help me," according to the police report.

soundoff(1,408 Responses)

Phil

"I just heard people screaming 'help me, help me.' And this person shot him!" – Sounds like self defense. Especially since the shooter even says he was "following" the eventual victim – pursuing the victim. I suppose any robber could claim self-defense if this guy gets away. Not a racial thing, just a crazy, paranoid person thing.

He was clearly told not to pursue. That child was being followed by a deranged stranger, in fear for his life. This man is a killer, bottom line. He racially profiled Trevaughn then hunted him down and executed him. He should suffer the same fate and the police department needs to be investigated for corruption and incompetence.

No, you are incorrect. At 1:30 of this video file, you hear the dispatcher ask Mr. Zimmerman if he was following Trayvon and he indicated that he was. The dispatcher stated very clearly that we do not, (meaning the police), need you, (Mr. Zimmerman), to do that, (follow Trayvon). He even acknowledged this statement by saying "Okay". Seems to me that anyone with the most rudimentary understanding of the English language would understand this means to back off. Let the police handle it. Mr. Zimmerman, in my opinion, esclated this by making contact with Trayvon and this extremely unfortunate incident erupted into something that it did not need to be. It is clear to me that Mr. Zimmerman had a preconceived notion in his head that this young man was up to no good and regardless of what done or said, he was, at least in Mr. Zimmerman's mind, guilty of something. He even referred to Trayvon as an "a**hole" in the 911 call. It is clear to me and should be to anyone following this story that Mr. Zimmerman went too far and as a result, a human lost his life. To me, this is entirely about racism, and as a white man living in the south, enough is enough. Mr. Zimmerman, in my opinion, murdered that young man, it was premeditated as he already had the gun and interacted with Trayvon purposefully and with intent to pick a fight. He needs to be arrested, charged and ultimately convicted for what he has done and may God have mercy on his soul. To the family of Trayvon, you and yours remain in my prayers.

I don't think that this was racial, probally more like this Zimmerman fellow is a mass murderer. Why else would he allowed himself to be captured? Try to connect Zimmerman with other murders in the area and see if this was an isolated event, or he is a serial killer.

Land of the FREAKS more bizzar,shocking, studipy and crazy stories have come from that state than any other state.
Wonder if it's all the Vicidone,Prozact and all the other meds them old timers are taking are passing and takin ?

I am very troubled by all these anti-black remarks made about this incident. Isn't anyone bothered by the "Stand your Ground" law? What if a white person is killed by a bunch of black people because the white person looked like KKK members and hence looked very threatening and hence make a claim for self-defense! Then what? All the idiots supporting Zimmerman should realize the dangers of doing so because you could very well be the next victim of this draconian law! To think that the person who shot him is still in his house is preposterous!

I am equally bothered by the Stand Your Ground law. This young man didn't know this man following him. He wasn't a police officer or even had a security watch shirt on. Appears like the Zimmerman caught up with him and grabbed him to hold him for the police and the kid was trying to get away from him and may have even hit Zimmerman in self defense. But Zimmerman is 100 pounds heavier than the kid, so the kid isn't the aggressor. He's trying to escape. Again, if I was a teen and some strange man grabbed me, I would struggle too. Zimmerman must have got mad and shot him. This is not stand your ground. This is murder. I hope the kid's family sues the crap out of Zimmerman and they lock him up. This guy is a danger to everyone!

you are quite right. Self defense is a legal principle that dates back to thousands of years. It evolved from common law, and has been honed over the years to make sure that defendants who use it to justify a killing truly deserve to be set free. The arrogance of these Floridians to think they know more than centuries of Jurists who have contoured this defense is astonishing. By removing the need to prove you had no choice "I could not flee," what you are left with is a self defense doctine that allows you to commit murder after murder provided that you leave no surviving witnesses.

The "stand your ground" language has undeniable appeal to meat-heads everywhere... but in actuality, this law eviscerates the doctine of self defense, and provides a road-map for un-prosecutable murder.

Floridians be warned. If someone holds a grudge against you, I would avoid ever going out in public by yourself – as you will need witnesses to rebutt the murderer's presumption of self defense to get justice.

I am glad that the U.S. Department of Justice will be investigating, but it will not bring this young man back. What is truly frustrating about this siuation is that: a) it is a direct result of Florida's ridiculously lax gun laws, b) it is a direct result of racism, and c) it could have *still* been prevented had any of these people on the 911 tapes gotten up off of their fat, lazy backsides and intervened as a child was murdered in their back yards. Pathetic and senseless.

@trans...I entirely agree with the last part, although, I do believe the Stand Your Ground Law here in FL is ultimately a good thing and do not believe it would apply here. I could be wrong, but I do not think that is the intent of that law. As for the neighbors, shame to them and I hope they hear those screams for help echoing in their heads for the rest of their miserable lives. What a joke of a "community". I live across the street from a middle school and elementary school and believe me, if I heard a kid screaming like that for help, I am going to get involved. Window warriors, the whole damned lot of them.

Zimmerman was a big cowboy with a big gun, hoping to deliver justice like in the movies. Real life does not work that way. He tought he had jessie james, but he shot an innocent kid.There are too many guns in America and a vigilante should NEVER carry a gun. Especially a bonehead like Zimmerman.

They are several people thoring out facts that are incorrect. This kid did not have a criminal background. He had been suspended from school for violation of school policy that had nothing to do with any violent behavior according to a statement from the school district. It is also highly probable that when Zimmerman approached this kid with the gun visible and no police indentification, Martin probably assumed he was being mugged and went into survival mode. Zimmerman created the problem by taking the law into his own hands. He was not properly trained and the end result is a 17 year old kid is dead for no reason. The problem is compounded by the sloppy police work on the part of the Sanford Police Department. At minmum, they had probable cuase to hold him overnight until further facts were determined.

The question no one is asking:
Why has Mr. Zimmerman not issued a public apology expressing remorse for the death of a boy who had committed no crime, carried no weapons, and did not deserve to die. If he is such a great guy, as his father claims, how is he not agonizing over the fact that an innocent young person with a bright future is dead by his hand and judgement? A family has lost their child because of his actions, but his family's only comments are to say what a great non-judgemental guy George Zimmerman is? How bout expressing regret. Remorse. Contrition.

That alone should be all the evidence a prosecutor needs to know about George Zimmerman when examining his claim of self defense.

George Zimmerman still thinks there is nothing wrong with what he did. People with that blunted of a brain are a menace to society, and must be put away for the safety of the community.

Actually, that would do quite the opposite. The guy is claiming self defense. If he then comes out and publicly apologizes admitting some kind of feeling of guilt, although it might make him look more sympathetic, it also makes him look like he is lying. The question will quickly come up "why is he apologizing if he supposed was at threat of life and needed to defend himself?"

So true! For the idiot talking about hispanic is white race don't matter what race. White race don't give damn about you. Dum ass. We all one got damn race, we all die the same, breathe the same and we all bound to judgement day. What some gun and kill someone you love for the apparent reason., We are suppose to be better than, God is watching and listening. Stop the damn violence, Stop killing innocent kids.

People have advised Zimmerman not to speak publicly and he is following their advice. We can assume he is sorry about what happened either because he knows he used bad judgment or because of what's happened to his life since this became national.

I agree with you. I am a middle aged white woman (can't belive that but I am) and I am not racist, and am terrible pained but this whole situation. I see people as people – doesn't matter to me what you are- as long as you are nice and treate people with respect. Also saying I am middle aged and white seems kindof weird.....I am a person...as was this young man – so much life to live and cut short. I find it odd that Zimmerman has not issued some kind of statement. Are his lawyers scattering to find meat to this issue???

I couldn't agree with you more Giampaolo. If we can't, as a public, come to a consensus over what happened that night, at least we can come to agree that it is a really horrific and terrible tragedy. There is something to be said for the disturbing lack of empathy (or even sympathy) on behalf of both Zimmerman and his family over the death of an innocent young man. How could someone not be distraught over taking another man's life? I truly believe that this silence alone speaks quite loudly to the fact that something here is very awry.

You don't know what happened.
You don't know what's going on inside Zimmerman's head, or what pressures he's getting from family or counsel.
Yet, you've decided that he must be "put away".

I'm not saying a crime definitely wasn't committed. I'm saying you have no evidence that one was. All indications from this story are that no crime was committed.

As for the story itself: Are both the author and the CNN editors actually so incompetent that they didn't seek clarity on the Martin's lawyer's claim that a young girl heard who pushed whom? I'd have been interested in those details.

The only evidence you have of a crime being committed here is your own imagination. Yet, you advocate for putting someone away.

wow are you completely wrong. first trayvon did commit a crime, assult, battery, attempted murder second he tried to beat someone to death ..... sorrry that does desirve to die. any one who knows george has said he is very remorsefull. so that claim of yours is completely false. and lastly george didnt do anything wrong. he saw someone he deamed suspisous, called police, followed him to help police, when told not to follow he returned to his truck, only to get jumped by someone younger taller and stronger who tried to beat him to death. only after screaming for help and calling the police didnt work he used his last resort. I only wish my neighborhood was full of george zimmermans i would sleep soundly knowing hes watching out for all of us. If trayvon was so innocient why didnt he call police or run home or call for help or wait for police. just because comeone is following you it doesnt mean you can try tyo beat them to death.

"innocent young person with a bright future" – YOU HAVE A VIVID IMAGINATION

The 17-year-old was suspended three times in a series of incidents that included getting caught spraying graffiti and carrying an empty baggie with traces of marijuana, according to a Miami-Dade Schools Police report obtained by the Miami Herald. The report details an incident from October, when Martin mark a door with "W.T.F.". When the school cop searched Martin's backpack the next day looking for the graffiti marker, he reported he found women's jewelry and a screwdriver described as a "burglary tool," the report said. According to the report, the 12 pieces of jewelry included silver wedding bands, earrings with diamonds and a watch. The investigator asked about the jewelry and "Martin replied it's not mine. A friend gave it to me," the report said.

Have you people lost your mind! Get the whole story, Zimmerman attached him, the kid wasn't doing anything but walking home. String him up! This isn't about the kids family playing the race card and the media attention, those local cops don't have the full story and are letting ZImmerman get away with murder. As the pieces are coming together, the FBI is getting involved to investigate. Ridiculous....those of you with kids understand what happened here.

Nice to have a bunch of backyard jury members deciding who was right and who was wrong without a trial. I have not heard Zimmermans story yet as well, but think a hearing should be held to help determine if this should go to court.

Yea u are right no one heard his part of the story but according to his 911 call he seemed curious and nervous and was advised by the operator to back off,he had a pistol not a stun gun and he should have realized that the pistol can kill, so before he took the shot for no reason of treat he should of thought about what he was doing. No one should own a gun if they don't know how and when to use it.

This stinks. Poor Kid. I live in S. Fla. and it's like the wild west down here. Gangs Black, White, Hispanic everywhere. The public beach crowd is even questionable. No matter what race the people here are nuts. Damn heat.

I don't understand why this guy is not charged with any crime. How can the police judge a person at the scene when they killed someone and said it was in self defense and let them go? They gave the young male on the ground dead a drug test and a background check and let the shooter just walk away. Why he wasn't given the same treatment as the person he killed? He (the killer) needs to be brought to justice NOW

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